In this open course, we will investigate how community in affiliates and congregations of The Christian Community can be built up.

Body, soul and spirit of a community

Pioneering situations: How to begin?

Organization, finances and practice

“You are the Body of Christ”: A Theology of community building

Please see the week’s schedule at the bottom of the page, including locations and details for the “World Cafe” Tuesday evening at 7:30, at the church.

Monday to Friday: Each day begins at the church (15 Margetts Rd, Spring Valley) at 8:00 am with the Act of Consecration of Man with the exception of Wednesday which begins with a lecture at 8:00 a.m. at the seminary (7 Carmen Court, Spring Valley). Thursday’s service is celebrated in German.

An organic, vegetarian breakfast is provided from 9:00 until 10:00 followed by morning lectures with one break before lunch which is from 12:30 – 2:30 1:00. Please note breakfast and participation in the service is optional.

Please see below for information regarding accommodation, meals, transportation and other aspects of your visit.

Registration:

You may register and pay on-line by clicking the link above (if registering under a name different from that of your payment, please include this as a note or by email). You may also register and pay with a credit card over the phone or register by email info@christiancommunityseminary.org or by calling (845) 356-0972. You may make your payment by check, payable to the Seminary of The Christian Community and mail this to 7 Carmen Court, Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977 or you may arrange to make your payment when you arrive.

Accommodation:

Holder House and The Fellowship offer guest rooms, located within walking distance of the seminary and church or, a three minute drive by car. You may walk on the roadside or prefer to walk through fields and forests; if so, you may wish to bring appropriate foot wear. Seminarians are available to guide you. Please see the map at the bottom of this page (a copy will be made available on the first day of the open course along with other guest information). Guests may wish to share rides.

Accommodation at Holder House includes use of a shared kitchen where you may prepare meals. You may arrange for linens, etc. with your reservation. Please visit the Holder House web site for further information and to book your reservation request on-line. Rooms are available on a first come, first served basis; it is suggested to book early to avoid disappointment. You may contact Holder House directly via the Three Fold web site, please click here. Please note that cell phone and internet reception may be sporadic at Holder House and in the general area. NOTE: Check-in is at 4:00; check-out is at 11:00. Your room key will not be available earlier. There are fewer staff members available at Holder House, on weekends.

Rooms may also be arranged with home owners in the area. To arrange to rent a room in a private home, Click here to download the Home Stay list. If you have a car, you may wish to consider a local hotel. For a list of hotels convenient to the Threefold campus, please click here.

Meals:

Your visit for the open course includes an organic, vegetarian, breakfast at 9:00 a.m. at the seminary, Monday through to Friday.

If you are staying at Holder House, you will have the use of a shared kitchen with plates, pots and pans, etc., provided. There is a local co-op within walking distance of Holder House where you may wish to purchase groceries which includes an organic and bio-dynamic selection or prepared foods. Other grocery stores are within an approximately five-minute drive.

The co-op also offers self-serve, organic, lunch and dinner which you may take-out or, there is some outdoor seating available.

A café is located next to Holder House which is generally open serving breakfast, snack and lunch, Monday to Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm. The days and hours of operation are subject to change; please check their web site available at http://www.threefold.org.

The Hand and Hoe, located a short walk from Holder House, is open for lunch on Fridays, with indoor and some patio seating.

The Fellowship, located a short distance from Holder House, offers lunch for their residents. You may call in advance to request they prepare an additional meal for you which you may eat in their lunch room.

Coffee shops and restaurants are located on Chestnut Ridge Rd., a short walk from Holder House.

Transportation:

Directions to the Threefold campus by car and public transit are detailed in this document

Airport transportation may be arranged with local drivers who charge $60.00 or, more (depending upon traffic) each way to and from Newark Airport, considerably less than a taxi. The cost may be shared with other passengers. The drives to other airports are more expensive given longer drive times and tolls. Please ask for contact information for local drivers and we’ll be pleased to forward this to you.

Daily rides to the church and seminary might be arranged with other guests or perhaps with seminary students who may have a car.

Bus transportation is available to New York City and other destinations. Note: Weekend schedules vary from week day schedules.

Walking from Holder House through the fields and forests is a pleasant way to make your way to the seminary and church. A trail map will be provided and you may join seminary students who usually use the trails. Please bring appropriate outdoor footwear for inclement weather and indoor footwear for your comfort.

Things to do:

We are located approximately 30 miles north of New York City which offers many sites and events.

Many local events and performances are posted on the Three Fold Web site www.threefold.org.

Library and Books:

Open course guests may have the use of the seminary library during the week of the course from Monday to Friday with the exception of 1:00 to 2:30, each day, which it is a quiet period at the seminary.

The church has a selection of books for sale which also serves as a fundraising opportunity for the congregation.

Meadowlark books and gift shop is located on Chestnut Ridge Rd.

Books are available for purchase at the seminary including titles by Bastiaan Baan; the proceeds of which raise funds for the seminary.

The following are some of the shops within walking distance of Holder House:

When evening lectures are part of an open course, they are included in the open course fee. For those interested in attending only evening lectures, the suggested donation is $15.00 per evening. You may wish to contract the Spring Valley congregation regarding dates and themes of their lecture series which is by donation.

7:30 World Café Conversation with the Congregation – details at the bottom of the page (at the church)

Wednesday

11:30 – 12:30 Christian Leadership and Fellowship in an Affiliate

2:30 – 3:30 Work Afternoon and Newsletter

3:30 – 4:00 Break

4:00 – 5:00 Devotional Service and Review (at the church)

Thursday

11:30 – 12:30 The Sacrament of Consultation

2:30 – 3:30 Finances and Legal Questions

3:30 – 4:00 Break

4:00 – 5:00 Children’s Program and Festivals

Friday

12:00 – 1:00 Review and Devotional Service (at the seminary)

Tuesday at 7:30 pm at the church –

World Café Conversation

Join us for a festive evening with members and friends from many different ‘outposts’ of the Christian Community in North America! The World Café conversation format takes place in a special environment, usually modeled after a café, i.e. small groups around a table with light refreshments. The process begins with the first of three 20-minute rounds of conversation for each small group on the theme: What’s in a name? Taking our name as our starting point, “The Christian Community, Movement for Religious Renewal”, we will explore the questions – “How do we experience ourselves as a community? How do we experience ourselves as a movement?” At the end of 20 minutes, the members of each group split up and move to different tables. After all the small group conversations, individuals are invited to share insights or other results from their conversations with the rest of the large group